KZN MEC for COGTA (Co-operative Governance & Traditional Affairs) Sipho Hlomuka, together with MEC for Public Works & Human Settlements Jomo Sibiya, visited the Ezimbovini area in Emondlo last week Thursday.
The MECs were there to officially hand over boreholes and lightning conductors to Ward 14 in AbaQulusi as part of the winter season awareness campaign, as the province continues to grapple with inclement weather conditions. Local councillors, the district mayor and the chief of the area were there too, and they addressed the audience present on the day. AbaQulusi Acting Mayor Mncedisi Maphisa expressed how grateful he is to see the MECs in Ward 14, as they are making people’s lives better. He mentioned that people should continue to create jobs for themselves, like doing gardening at their homes. In that way, they will be able to live better lives.
Mr Mdlalose, who is the chief in Ward 14, was given a chance to speak and he said, “I am pleased to witness the presence of the MEC in this area, so he can see for himself where we live. There is not much development here and we would love to see more development in our area, especially basic needs. Lastly, I would like the councillors to work closely and together with the chiefs.” MEC for Human Settlements & Public Works Jomo Sibiya mentioned to the people that it’s time to stop promising what they will offer to the people and actually deliver on those promises. He said that the people who live in rural areas are ‘the ones who need our attention the most’ and committed himself to bring proper housing to the people of Ward 14. He requested a list of people who seriously need housing in that specific area and promised to look into this issue.
KZN MEC for GOGTA Sipho Hlomuka firstly apologised to the people for inviting them in bad weather conditions, but mentioned that the work must go on – whether it is cold or hot, development is not under lockdown. He thanked and applauded Mam Ngidi (Ward 14 councillor) for bothering to keep on calling him to come to their area. “We all know that water is a priority in KZN and we are aware that our people lack water. We don’t want our people to fetch water from the dams and rivers; people shouldn’t drink water where the cattle also drink. We want the people to drink clean running water from taps in their households. While people are still waiting for taps, we will implement a borehole that does not require much labour from the people to use. As we have implemented those boreholes, now they are yours to use and it is your responsibility to also look after them and not to waste water. People must keep in mind that there is no government without them – we are called the MECs, mayors and so forth because of you people, and you are the government itself.”
Gardening materials, food parcels and blankets were given out to the most vulnerable people that day. Lightning conductors were also installed to protect households within this area. MEC Hlomuka has assured residents of the province that disaster management teams continue to be on high alert in anticipation of heavy rains that are expected in areas along the coast of the province.
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